AS.com

Last night Mourinho landed at Barajas airport. Today he will call together his close-knit team of Karanka, Rui Faria, Louro and Morais to start planning for the pre-season, and tomorrow, at 10:00 hrs behind closed doors at Valdebebas, he will bring together the 13 available players from the first team squad and a dozen or so young players from the ranks to dust them down and get them ready after the holiday season. Mourinho's return will be a hive of activity as he embarks upon his third season in charge after landing at the Bernabéu in June 2010.

The beginning of this third season is notable for his lack of activity in the transfer market, opting instead to work with what he has. This time last year he had already sewn up the signings of Varane, Callejón, Altintop, Sahin and Coentrao, with the Portuguese left-back the last to arrive, on 5 July.

While still waiting to see what will happen with Modric (Mou is certain that the Croatian international will sign, though the whole affair could take another couple of weeks), 'The Special One'will have to deal with certain sticky situations, such as Kaká's uncertain future. Mou doesn't expect to be using his services, but the club won't lower the asking price, which could be the possible reason his is still part of the squad. Therefore, the potential buyers (particularly AC Milan) must be aware that they will have splash the cash if they want to sign him.

The ranks

In comparison with previous years, it is telling this year that Mourinho has brought Morata and the goalkeeper Jesús into the first team squad. The two players from Castilla played a large part in the promotion to the Liga Adelante last season. He is currently missing Carvajal after his move to Bayer Leverkusen, but has every confidence in Arbeloa, even more so now after his fine performances at Euro 2012.

What Mourinho still has to clear up before he travels to the US on 28 July is how the medical services are going to work (they have always been with Sanitas), what role Zidane will play with the club (if any) and his vision of the ranks (Toril has become more important after the departure of Esnaider). Mou is back in town with determination and just one job and one obsession left: number Ten...